Hello, reader!
It’s Thursday and that seems a perfect day to do a tag! Today, I’ll be doing the 20 Questions Book Tag, which looks like a ton of fun. I was tagged by the awesome Esther @ Cozy With Books. She has such a fun blog! The aesthetic is so bright and cheerful and, if you like authors like John Sanford, you’re going to love her content. You should check her out if you haven’t already!
I went into a blog deep dive to try and discover who originally created this tag, but I came up empty handed. If any of you know, please fill me in so I can give credit where credit is due!
For now, though, let’s jump in.
1. How Many Books Is Too Many Books In a Series?
I tend to get bored with a series when it moves past ten books, I’ve realized. That’s what happened with the Anita Blake series and I started losing steam on the Wheel of Time series around book ten. I do want to re-read the Wheel of Time series, though, because now I know there’s an end, haha. I think that’s what turns me off… I start to wonder if there will ever be resolution and then I get annoyed 😂
2. How Do You Feel About Cliffhangers?
Again, as long as I know there’s going to be a resolution, I’m all for it! I love the suspension of a good cliffhanger and how hyped it gets me for the next book. That being said, I’m okay with an open-ended ending to a book or series, but if it has the excitement and the nail-biting quality of a cliffhanger, then I’m upset. I guess I just don’t like being left in suspense!
3. Hardback or Paperback?
My heart says ‘hardback’ but my baby wrists say ‘paperback’, haha. Honestly, though, a far amount of my books are hardback and I love the feel of holding/reading one. At the same time, as a fantasy reader who finds herself drawn to epics, I have a lot of chonky hardbacks on my TBR that just look like they’re gonna hurt to hold/read. Like The Jasmine Throne… my wrist were crying out for relief once I finished that book! So, sometimes, I’m kind and give them a break by picking up a nice paperback.
4. Favorite Book?
This is just a cruel question to ask a book lover! How am I supposed to pick just one?! I have quite a few favorites, but I suppose I’ll pick a more recent favorite to feature here. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin was a recent read that instantly jumped onto my ‘favorites of all time’ list. I had been wanting to read it for forever, but the hype intimidated me. Thankfully, this blew the hype out of the water. It was so good!
5. Least Favorite Book?
It’s a toss up between The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, but I think I’m gonna go with The Scarlet Letter. It’s the most boring book I have ever had the displeasure to read. I was supposed to read this in high school and couldn’t make myself get through it. I picked it up again as an adult, forced myself to finish it, and now hate it more than I did before. My heart holds so much hatred for this book…
6. Love Triangles: Yes or No?
No thank you. Because they aren’t really a triangle, are they? Usually, it’s quite obvious which love interest the author is steering the main character towards, as well, and it’s almost never the interesting one. I’m also not a hug fan of ‘bad boys’ and they seem to invariably be one part of a love triangle. Definitely not my jam.
7. The Most Recent Book You Just Couldn’t Finish?
Uuuugh, this one makes me so sad. I wanted to love Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart but I just couldn’t get into the story. I do want to go back to it eventually and give it another go. I’ve heard that the second half gets far more interesting! For now, though, it’s back on the TBR shelf. Fingers crossed that I get on with it better the next time around because the premise is so freakin’ good!
8. A Book You’re Currently Reading?
Here’s a book that is definitely living up to expectations! I’m close to finishing Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse and, so far, I’m loving it! It’s just as vivid and compelling as the first book in the series, Black Sun. It is, in fact, a bit more action-packed and I ain’t mad at it. And, shock among shocks, I find myself really loving Naranpa’s POV chapters! She was my least favorite in the first book, heh. I’m so glad I’m loving this because it was my most anticipated read of the year.
9. The Last Book You Recommended to Someone?
I saw The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern on my best friend’s bookshelf and told her she needed to read it immediately! I think I had mentioned it to her before, saying it was one of my favorite books, so that’s probably how it ended up there, haha. I’m hoping she loves it just as much as I did! This is not a book for everyone, I will fully admit that, but I loved the vibes and the characters and will treasure it forever.
10. Oldest Book You’ve Read by Publication Date?
According to Goodreads, it’s Beowulf, which makes sense. I think I read this in high school? Or was it college… I honestly can’t remember now. I just remember not caring for it all that much. Interesting tale, but not my cup of tea. I did read a book from the monster’s POV at some point that I liked a lot more! Either way, I get why this is a classic, even if I didn’t particularly care for it.
11. Newest Book You’ve Read by Publication Date?
That would be Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu! I absolutely loved this middle grade fantasy that follows a young Black girl who learns her natural hair has superpowers! The message of learning to love yourself and, specifically for Black kids, love your hair was powerful. I adored the characters and the world-building was incredible! I’m eager to get to read more of this series.
12. Favorite Author?
Again, this is a cruel question! I have so many authors that I love! A few on my auto-buy list are Angie Thomas, Erin Morgenstern, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Margaret Owen. I honestly can’t pick a favorite from them and my other top authors because I love them all for different reasons. You can’t make me choooooose!
13. Buying Books or Borrowing Books?
Recently, I’ve been big into borrowing books. That’s mostly because I have far too many unread books that I own and I really need to stop adding to the pile 😅 But I’ve also been trying to patronize my local library more and I’ve been loving it! Arguably, my bank account loves it more.
14. A Book That You Dislike That Everyone Else Seems to Love?
I dunno… a lot of people seem to love Wuthering Heights and I cannot stand that book. If it were a person, I would definitely fight it. Just because.
15. Bookmarks or Dog-Ears?
Uuuummmm, bookmarks?! I would never dog-ear my beloved books! No judgement to those who do, of course, because you can do whatever you want with your own novels. My books, however, will have their pages left blissfully unbent.
16. A Book You can Always Reread?
The two books I’ve re-read the most are Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I love both of them for very different reasons! The Westing Game has the nostalgia factor going for it because it was one of my favorite books from childhood. Even though it’s a mystery and I obviously know how it ends, I still love reading it over and over again. The journey is just so much fun. As for Raybearer, I fell in love with the world Jordan Ifueko created and I want to visit it as many times as I can. Every time I read it, I find something new to enjoy.
17. Can You Read While Hearing Music?
Yes, but only if there are no words involved. I like to put on a lo-fi channel and chill as I read. If there are lyrics, though, especially if it’s songs that I know, I will end up singing along and not paying attention to my book at all, haha.
18. One or Multiple POVs?
I do prefer multiple POVs, but I’m okay with reading a book with just one. I think I enjoy multiple POVs because you get to see the story from so many different angles. There’s always the danger that you’ll hate one of the POVs (LOOKING AT YOU, CALLUM), but usually that’s balanced out with ones that you love.
19. Do You Read A Book In One-Sitting or Over Multiple Days?
Typically, it takes me multiple days to finish a book. There are exceptions to the rule, of course! Graphic novels and novellas are usually one sitting reads. There have been a few novels that I devoured in one day, if not one sitting, as well. Usually, though, I’m a pretty slow reader!
20. A Book You’ve Read Because of the Cover?
Hahaha, SO MANY! A recent cover read, however, was Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega. Well… I initially wanted to read it solely because I loved the cover. I learned more about it as it was getting closer to release date, however, and that just strengthened my urge to read. Imagine how hyped I was when I got sent an ARC! I fell in love with this story and Seven, Thorn, and Valley. I can’t wait to continue this series!
I’m not tagging anyone in particular for this one, but I highly encourage anyone who read this and would like to give it a go to jump in! Consider this your tag 😄 And drop me a link so I can read your answers, as well!
Until next time, happy reading!
Kerri McBookNerd 
I always love this tag and now I need to reread Raybearer!
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It was a lot of fun to do! And now I kinda want to reread Raybearer as well 😂
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I loved reading your answers to this tag. I wonder if anyone will own up to actually folding down the pages instead of using a bookmark?
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Haha, right? My husband does it and I make sure he only does so on *his* books 😂
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i love this post kerri!! i was not expecting to see the westing game on any lists today and seeing it here just sent me on a a huge nostalgia trip. now i really want to reread it lol 😅 and i’ve yet to read raybearer but your constant praise makes me want to get to it asap 🤩
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Haha, that’s exactly what happens to me whenever I run across The Westing Game in the wild 😂 Thankfully, I recently bought a new copy so I can reread it whenever I want. Ohh, I hope you do read Raybearer and I hope you love it as much as I did 😊
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[…] @ letters to the lost 💌 kerri @ kerri mcbooknerd 💌 jan @ inkspun tales 💌 queenie @ the erudite labyrinth 💌 & anyone else who’d […]
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[…] back with another tag today and it’s the 20 Questions Book Tag that the wonderful Kerri @ KerriMcBookNerd tagged me in back in June (oop!). If you haven’t already, go check out Kerri’s blog! […]
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